Colby Rasmus

NL CENTRAL Chicago Cubs Expect a decision today on the fifth spot in the rotation between Jason Marquis and Jon Lieber. Marquis was 12-9 for Chicago last season with a 4.60 ERA in 34 appearances. Cincinnati Reds RHP Matt Belisle, who missed his last start because of a tight forearm, threw 30 pitches in the bullpen without a problem. . . . C Ryan Hanigan was optioned to Class AAA Louisville. Houston Astros LHP Wandy Rodriguez, recovering from a strained left oblique muscle, pitched in a Class AAA game.

A congressional committee has officially asked the U.S. Justice Department to review whether pitcher Roger Clemens committed perjury when he testified that he never used steroids. The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform sent a letter to Attorney General Michael Mukasey on Wednesday requesting an investigation relating to Clemens' deposition and testimony for a Feb. 13 hearing on performance-enhancing drugs in Major League Baseball. Kazmir to miss 2 weeks American League strikeout leader Scott Kazmir will be sidelined for at least two weeks of spring training because of an elbow strain, although the Tampa Bay left-hander remains confident he'll be ready for opening day. The Rays said an MRI did not reveal a serious injury, but stressed the club will not take any unnecessary chances with the 24-year-old's recovery, even if it means him missing a start or two when the season begins.

Never mind that injuries limited Felix Doubront to 872/3 innings last year and 105 innings in 2010, or that he hasn't ever exceeded 130 innings in a season since turning pro in 2006. Two weeks ago, before making a start in Miami, the lefty expressed confidence in his ability to reach the 200-inning mark this season. "It's just the beginning, but my body feels good," Doubront told the Herald at the time. "I'll take my chances in the second half. I'm feeling strong and I'm hoping to get even stronger to finish the season.

Time to roll out some midseason awards. If only all the categories were as clear as the National League Most Valuable Player NL MVP Albert Pujols, Cardinals His run at the Triple Crown is making a flawed St. Louis team dangerous. Also in the picture: Prince Fielder (Brewers), Raul Ibanez (Phillies), Chase Utley (Phillies) and Hanley Ramirez (Marlins). NL Cy Young Tim Lincecum, Giants Baseball's mane man is bidding for a second consecutive Cy and has passed Johan Santana as the best pitcher in the game.

A year later, the St. Louis Cardinals are in the same position. As the trade deadline approached in 2011, the Cardinals' needs were defined: a starting pitcher and bullpen help. They connected with the Toronto Blue Jays in a late-July trade that landed Edwin Jackson for the rotation, Marc Rzepczynski and Octavio Dotel for the bullpen and Corey Patterson for outfield depth. All it cost the Cardinals was enigmatic outfielder Colby Rasmus , who clearly needed a fresh start, and three pitchers we may never hear from again: Trever Miller , Brian Tallet and P.J. Walters . It was a steal of a deal.

Over the first two months of the season, Chad Gaudin was lucky if he broke a sweat on most nights. Now, it feels like he's getting up and warming up in the Marlins bullpen almost every day. The 29-year-old right-handed long reliever, who made just nine appearances over the team's first 51 games, was back on the mound for the eighth time this month on Friday night. And just like all of his previous appearances, he didn't have a sponge large enough to clean up the Marlins' latest mess.

Sometimes, a big defensive play can jump-start a struggling team. Sometimes, even a timely bunt can do the trick. The Marlins got both from Justin Ruggiano on Saturday. Unfortunately, nothing he did, nor the seven solid innings of two-hit ball Josh Johnson tossed were enough to stop the Fish from continuing their nosedive in June. A six-run ninth inning by Toronto offset all the good Ruggiano and Johnson provided, as the Blue Jays sent the Marlins tumbling to their sixth loss in a row -- and the 15th in their past 17 games -- with a 7-1 defeat in front of 24,448 at Marlins Park . "Did you see the two ladies sleeping upstairs?

Hanley Ramirez has never been one to speak up or take command of the Marlins clubhouse. It's just not who he is comfortable being -- especially not when he's struggling at the plate and not holding his end of the bargain. But with the Marlins reeling after their 15th loss in their last 17 games Saturday, the three-time All-Star and former batting champion decided it was time to do something uncomfortable. He called his first team meeting, where he told his teammates it was time "for everybody to just clear their heads, start over and hit the reset button.